Ski binding



July 25, 1939. R. VAN BRUNT SKI BINDING Filed Feb. 25, 1937 INVENTOR. Rake f Vdl? BIZ/Hf Br M ATTORNEY.

Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in ski bindings and more particularly to the toe engaging portions of such devices.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, sturdy and efficient ski binding which may be manufactured economically.

Ski bindings have been provided which include two adjustable toe engaging elements or toe pieces each consisting of a vertical flange extending upward from a horizontal base portion, the toe engaging elements being adjustable to accommodate diiierent shapes and widths of toes of various kinds of ski shoes or boots, said elements being held against accidental displacements by a removable locking plate held on the ski by screws, the locking plate extending over the horizontal portion of the toe engaging elements.

Some of the features of the invention relate to the improvements of the interlocking means, between the locking plate and the toe engaging elements, to aiiord maximum strength and facilitate assembling of the locking plate, when making an adjustment of the toe engaging elements.

Another feature relates to hold down lugs, on the toe engaging elements, which extend over the edges of the sole of the ski shoe, means being provided whereby these lugs are made adjustable to accommodate various thicknesses of the soles.

A further feature relates to means to prevent accidental displacement and dislodgement of the hold down lugs from their adjusted positions.

In the accompanying drawing which forms part of the specification:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device attached to a portion of a ski;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. l, but shows a different adjustment of the toe engaging pieces; and

Fig. 4 is a detail end view showing the teeth of a portion of one of the toe engaging elements engaging the teeth of a portion of the locking plate.

Similar reference characters represent similar parts throughout the several views.

The ski binding of this invention includes two toe engaging pieces or elements 5, each having a vertical flange 5 to engage the opposite side edges of a sole of a ski shoe or boot, not shown. From the lower end of each flange 6 extends, horizontally, another flange I having elongated slots 8. The flanges I rest upon the ski 9 and are held in place by a locking plate It] having holes II therein. Screws l2 extend through the holes II of said'locking plate I0 and through the slots 8 of the toe piece flanges I, and are threaded into the ski 9 to secure the toe engaging elements 5 in any position to which they may be adjusted.

After the toe or fore part of the ski shoe has been inserted between the vertical flanges Ii, the ski may be secured to the shoe by the usual heel engaging device including two straps A extending forwardly therefrom, each strap having at its forward end a metal hook A engaging a stud A2 secured to the outer side of the flange 6, one of the straps being provided with the usual lever to produce a pull on both straps to thereby push the ski shoe forwardly to fit tightly between the flanges B of the toe engaging pieces 5.

The toe engaging elements 5 are interlocked with the plate I0 by upward extending teeth I5 and I6 of the flanges I and thus any accidental, lateral shifting of the toe engaging devices 5 is prevented. The teeth I3 and I5, at the left hand end of Fig. 2, of the flanges 1 and the plate It), may be slightly rounded so as not to present objectionable corners to the sole of the shoe while the latter is being pushed forward in the binding devices.

In Fig. 1, the toe engaging elements 5 are set in their closest adjustment or, in other words, for the smallest shoe which the device can accommodate. When the adjustment is to be changed for a larger shoe the screws I2 are released suiliciently to permit the plate II] to be lifted high enough to disengage the teeth I3 and I4 from the teeth I5 and I6. The toe engaging elements 5 may then be moved outwardly, as at the upper portion of Fig. 3, to occupy a position parallel to the former position in Fig. 1, or one of the elements 5 may be adjusted angularly with reference to its former position or with reference to the side edge of the plate I0. To do this it is swung outwardly only at one end to the position shown in the lower portion of Fig. 3. After the teeth I3 and I4 have been properly registered with the spaces between the teeth I5 and I6 of the plate I0, the latter may be lowered and the screws are subsequently tightened to lock the toe engaging elements in their changed positions.

It is important, from a standpoint of strength, that as many teeth of the elements 5 and plate I0 cooperating at a time, therefore as many of the teeth I3 and I4 of the plate are arranged in a straight row similarly to the teeth I5 and I6 which are all arranged in straight rows on the adthe teeth 14 at the opposite edge of the plate are arranged in two rows each having a straight outer end portion and a curved inner end portion, the straight portions of the rows of teeth I4 being parallel with the straight portion of the row of teeth l3. This arrangement of the teeth 13 and I4 permits a maxim number of teeth to be active when the toe engaging'elernent's '5', onfwhich the teeth 15 and I6 are arranged in straight parallel rows, are adjusted to positions parallel to the sideedges of the plate 10. Italso permits the angular adjustment of the toe engaging elements, as above described, and illustrated in the lower partofFig.3.

, It will be observed, by an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2, that the teeth I5 and 16 extend upwardly and slightly outwardly from'the flanges! of elements 5. This facilitates assembly of the elements 5 with the plate [0. To further facilitate such assembly theteeth on the flanges 5 are tapered or in other words narrower at-their upper ends, see Fig. 4, so that the teeth I3 of the plate l0 may find their Wayv down between the teeth l5 of the flange l more readily.

It will also be observed that the'inner corners, formed by the teeth l5'and l6, and the body of the plate I0, engage the lower corners extending between the teeth l3 and 14 of the plate IU. Therefore each of the teeth l5 and It may act as an individual stop cooperating with the plate ID, to prevent relative lengthwise shifting of the toe engaging elements 5' with respect to said plate In.

Hold down lugs I! are provided on the flanges 6, of the toe engaging plates 5, and extend over the edges of the shoe sole to firmly hold down the shoe in the binding device.

Itis a feature of the invention to provide means to facilitate an adjustment of these hold down lugs I! in accordance with various thicknesses of the soles of different kinds of. ski shoes. To this end each hold down flange I! has at one side thereof, a downwardly extending locking'portion or shank l8 provided with teeth l9 at its opposite edges. These teeth cooperate with teeth 20, formed at the opposite sides of a slot 2|, in the flange 6, to prevent accidental or vertical shifting of the lug I! from its adjusted position.

To hold the shank I8 in the slot 2| and thus prevent accidental removal therefrom, there is provided a screw 22, extending through a sufliciently large aperture 23 of a washer. element 24,

and into a threaded hole in'the shank 18. By means of the screw 22, the hold down lug I! may be drawn tightly against the inner side of the vertical flange 6 to prevent accidental loosening of the lug element comprising the members I! a and I8 and thus hold the shank l8 in the slot 2|.

lugs H.

In order to make an adjustment of the hold down element l'l.-l8 for a different thickness of sole, the screw 22 is. first removed, the hold down element is then detached from the flange 6 by moving the lug away from the inner face of the vertical flange 6 to thus disengage the teeth l9 frorn' the teeth 20 of the slot 2|. may then be reinserted into the slot'2l with the The shank l8 lug I! at the desired position to accommodate the a sole. The lug element I'I-l8 may then be se-. cured in this position by the screw 22. The hold down lugs I! may be slightly curved, as shown in Fig. 2, so that thesole may be readily pushed thereunder.

Having thus described the invention it will be understood that alterations and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim: In a ski binding, the combination of two adjustable toe engaging plates, a locking plate to hold the toe engaging plates in their adjusted positions on the ski, and means to hold the locking plate firmly on the ski, the toe engaging plates having teeth at their front and rear edges to cooperate With teeth on the front and rear edges of the locking plate to prevent sidewise displacement of the toe engaging plates and to prevent accidental shifting of the toe engaging plates lengthwise of the ski, the teeth on the toe engaging plates being arranged in two straight parallel rows, the teeth on the rear edge of the locking plate being-arranged in a row having a straight middle portion and two curved portions oneat each end of said middle portion, the teeth at the front edge of the locking plate being arranged in two separate rows each having a straight outer end portion which is parallel with said middle portion of the row at the rear end of the locking plate, each row of teeth at the front end of the locking plate having also a curved inner end portion.

ROBERT VAN BRUNT. 

